# Bench Reference vs iRock

The clearest difference is price: iRock at Free against Bench Reference's $4.99. iRock also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.2). Bench Reference's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On rating, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

iRock is free to download; Bench Reference costs $4.99 up front. iRock sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Bench Reference asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Bench Reference against 5.0 for iRock. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

Bench Reference ships an update weekly, iRock monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bench Reference | iRock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bench-reference/id6757015545/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irock-offline-rock-id/id6759644948/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 3 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.2 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aaron brown](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864220001) | [高强 许](https://appshunter.io/developer/600339801) |

## What reviewers say

### Bench Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bench-reference/id6757015545)

This professional jeweler's reference guide provides comprehensive information on gemstones, metals, and bench techniques. It includes calculators for pricing, measurements, and 3D printing, along with a personal library and learning tools. Essential for jewelers needing quick access to data and procedures without an internet connection.

**Highlights:** Gemstone and material reference, Bench technique guides, Metal properties and working notes, Repair procedures, Measurement and data conversions, Professional calculators, Personal library system

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### iRock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irock-offline-rock-id/id6759644948)

Instantly identify rocks, minerals, and gemstones from a photo using advanced AI. Get detailed information, organize your discoveries in a personal diary with location tagging, and sync across devices. Ideal for students, rockhounds, and the curious.

**Highlights:** AI-powered rock identification, Detailed geological information, Personal discovery diary, Location tagging for finds, iCloud sync across devices, Data export (JSON/CSV), Privacy-focused data handling

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3 Scans Pack | $0.49 | one-time |
| 10 Scans Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Pro | $11.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bench Reference free?

Bench Reference costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is iRock free?

iRock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bench Reference or iRock?

Bench Reference and iRock are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Bench Reference or iRock have ads?

Neither Bench Reference nor iRock shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bench Reference or iRock?

Bench Reference ships an update weekly, and iRock monthly. Most recently, Bench Reference was updated on October 12, 2026 and iRock on October 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*